Flashlight device



' P 1949- H. T. SANTILLI 2,468,640

FLASHLIGHT DEVICE Filed June 11, 1947 I INVENTOR. flf/v/ey 7.' Jh/vr/u/ ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLASHLIGHT DEVICE Henry Tullio Santilli, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 11, 1947, Serial No. 753,927

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to flashlight devices, more particularly to a lighting structure operated by a battery and adapted to be incorporated in mirror, compact or keyholder devices.

It is primarily within the contemplation of my invention to provide a device which is, or which can conveniently be made to become, an integral part of that category of articles that require illumination, and that are normally of such compact proportions as to be capable of being carried in a pocket, purse, etc. And in a preferred embodiment of my invention, it is an important object to enable my device to be conveniently incorporated in a mirror structure, and particularly one that is adaptable for use in a vanity case or the like.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a structure whereby the bulb unit is positioned at a point substantially at the middle of the cylindrical shell of a standard battery, so that the battery-encasing member can be placed along an outer edge of a mirror, with the bulb disposed substantially at the middle of an edge thereof, thereby resulting in a symmetrical structure and one providing most effective illumination.

It is also within the contemplation of my invention to provide adequate insulating means for the battery, and a unitary bulb holder and contact member, both being conveniently and immovably disposed within an outer ornamental housing.

And it is still a further object of my invention to provide a structure capable of attaining the aforesaid objectives in a simple and economical manner.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front view of a fragment of a mirror incorporating along the upper edge thereof a preferred form of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1, with certain of the parts thereof of exaggerated proportions, for clarity;

Figure 3 is a section of Figure 2, taken along line 3-3;

Figure 4 is a perspective of a standard dry battery protected by an insulating shield constituting one of the elements of my invention, a fragment being broken away for clarity;

Figure 5 is a perspective enlarged view of the combination contactor and bulb holder constituting another of the elements of my invention;

Figure 6 is a section of Figure 3 taken along line 6-6, with the battery removed;

Figure 7 is a section of Figure 3 taken along line 1-7, with the battery removed; and

Figure 8 is a perspective View of a compact incorporating my invention.

In the form of my invention illustrated, an outer housing Ill, preferably of insulating material such as a suitable plastic and of generally cylindrioal configuration, is adapted to contain therein the battery and other of the elements of my inventiton, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the housing being shown as being integral with a wall H adapted to support along the inner surface thereof a mirror l2. It is to be understood, however, that the housing ll! may, within the scope and intent of this invention, be a separate and independent unit, or suitably joined to any other article requiring illumination.

Disposed within the interior of housing In is the battery I3 protected by an insulating shield M, the preferred form thereof being a cylinder made of plastic material open at both ends, whereby the entire lateral surface of the battery is protected except at the middle portion thereof which is exposed by the aperture l5. My invention, however, does not necessarily require that shield M encase the entire battery, inasmuch as an adequate construction could consist of a fragment of a cylinder in the region of hole [5, engaging only one side of the battery, the rest of the battery being engaged by the lateral wall of housing IE]. In either event, it is required either that all paper or other covering be removed from the outer cylindrical shell of the battery in the region of aperture so that the exposed portion I6 of the battery shell be uninsulated and capable of receiving the contacting element of a bulb, or that the battery shell be otherwise provided, in any known manner, with a contacting portion exposed to aperture l5.

The housing It! contains at one end thereof an aperture [1, preferably surrounded by a flanged wall l8 containing an inner abutment surface I9 adapted to receive thereagainst the end wall of battery I 3. Ihe opposite end of housing It) contains a threaded inner portion 20 with which a screw cap 2| is in threaded engagement, the thickness of the cap being such that when it is in operatively closed position, the surface 22 thereof will be in engagement with the adjacent end wall of the battery and surrounding shield [4, so that the said battery and its shield are held against longitudinal movement between said abutment l9 and Wall 22.

The bottom portion of the lateral wall of housing it! contains an aperture 23 the upper portion of which is covered by the hood 24 integral with the housing it. Communicating with the opening 23 of the casing are the two longitudinally disposed channels 25 and 26 adapted to receive therein the combination contactor and bulb holder 21 which will now be described.

The said member 21 consists of a lamp holding bar 28, preferably of curved cross section to fit into the said recessed channels 25 and 26, and a resilient contactor bar 29 integral and substantially at right angles with said bar 28. Bar 29 contains at the outer surface thereof a protuberance or raised portion 30 and an inwardly disposed contacting portion 3!. The protuberance 30 extends normally out through the aper ture ll of housing II], the contacting portion 3! being out of engagement with central terminal 32 of the battery. The said protuberance is adapted to be manually engaged and depressed, whereby contacting portion 3i comes into engagement with the terminal 32, for operatively closing the circuit. Extending outwardly from the bar 28 of member 21 is the cylindrical internally i i:

threaded bulb receptacle 3 3 which extends outwardly through aperture 23, and which is adapted to receive the bulb unit 3 3. In its operatively assembled position, the contacting element 35 of said bulb is in engagement with exposed portion It and member 21, my invention is particularly adapted for employing a bulb symmetrically arranged with respect to a mirror, along the medial line thereof, with the parts adequately insulated for operative and safe use. The structure is adapted for easy assembly and disassembly. In

order to disassemble the parts from their position shown in Figure 3, all that need be done is to unscrew the cap 2!, whereupon the battery 35 and its shield It can readily be removed. A new battery can be readily replaced within shield I4, whereafter the battery and shield are reinserted, the only precaution being to bring the aperture lb of shield 54 in registry with aperture 23 of housing l8.

It will be further observed that the member 21 can readily be assembled in place within housing l0 particularly since said member in its preferred form is of somewhat resilient material enabling it to be bent at juncture 3t while being inserted, and then snapped into place. And in its properly assembled position, the member 21 is held against rotation because of this positioning within the channels 25 and 26. Furthermore, the use of the grooved channels 25 and 2-6 permits bar 28 to be disposed in a depressed portion of the wall of housing l0, thereby enabling the battery I3 with its shield I4 to be snugly disposed Within the housing with substantially its entire surface in engagement with the interior of the housing.

Figure 3 clearly indicates how a unit consisting of the housing I0 and associated parts can be made integral with the wall I la, and adapted for hinged connection with the base or container portion of the compact 31,

iii)

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein which will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or manner of practicing same, except in so far as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a flashlight device of the class described, a generally cylindrical housing of insulating material, a support for the housing comprising a flat wall merged with the lateral cylindrical wall of the housing along substantially the entire length thereof, the said lateral wall containing a bulb aperture substantially mid-way along its length and adjacent the said support, two channels along the inner surface of the housing on opposite sides of and communicating with said aperture, a hood extending from said lateral wall in the region above said aperture, one end of the housing containing a circular flange surrounding a central contact opening, the other end of the housing being open and containing an internally threaded portion thereat, a cylindrical dry battery within the housing with its central contact terminal end abutting said flange and its opposite end adjacent the said threaded end of the housing, the outer metallic shell of the battery having a contacting portion thereof adjacent and exposed, to said bulb enerture, an insulating shield between the battery and at least that portion of the housing containing said channels, the shield containing an aperture in registry with the bulb aperture, a combination contactor and bulb holder comprising a bulb holding bar and a resilient contactor bar, the bulb holding bar being disposed Within both of said channels and containing a cylindrical bulb receptacle extending out through the said bulb aperture of the housing, the said contactor bar being substantially at right angles to the bulb, holding bar and containing a protuberance extending outwardly through said contact opening and an inwardly disposed contacting portion abuttable with said central contact terminal of the battery and normally removed therefrom, a bulb supported by said receptacle and extending through both said apertures and into operative engagement with the said exposed contacting portion of the outer battery shell, and a cap in threaded engagement with said internally threaded portion of the housing, the cap being in abutment with the adjacent end of the battery, whereby the battery will be held against longitudinal, movement between the said circular flange and the cap.

2. In a flashlight device, the combination according to claim 1, the, shield being a Cylindrical tube completely en casing the battery except at its ends and the region of said apertures.

3. In a flashlight device of the class described, a generally cylindrical housing of insulating material, a support for the housing comprising a flat wall merged with the lateral cylindrical wall of the housing along substantially the entire length thereof, the said lateral wall containing a bulb aperture substantially mid-way along its length and adjacent the. said support, one end of the housing containing a circular flange surrounding a central contact opening, the other end of the housing being open, a cylindrical dry battery within the housing with one end contact terminal thereof abutting said flange and its opposite end adjacent said open end of the housing, said battery containing a second contact terminal, a combination contactor and bulb holder comprising a bulb holding bar and a resilient contactor bar, the bulb holding bar being disposed longitudinally along the inner surface of the housing and containing a cylindrical bulb receptacle extending out through the said bulb aperture of the housing, the said contactor bar being substantially at right angles to the bulb holding bar and containing a protuberance extending outwardly through said contact opening and an inwardly disposed contacting portion abuttable with said contact terminal of the battery and normally removed therefrom, a bulb supported by said receptacle and extending through said bulb aperture in the housing and being electrically connected to said second contact terminal of the battery, and a. cap in detachable engagement with said open end of the housing, the cap being in abutment with the adjacent end of the battery, whereby the battery will be held against longitudinal movement between the said circular flange and the cap,

HENRY TULLIO SANTILLI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

